Post by josh on Dec 8, 2011 17:15:24 GMT -7
I often disagree with Sen. Baucus and have been know to make jokes about his head injury being the reason behind many of the stances he takes on important issues (healthcare, for instance...what happened to single-payer, Max?). However, he occasionally gets something right...well, half-right
I sent him an email recently to urge him to vote against the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), or at least those sections which declare the entire world to be a warzone, the US included, and allow for indefinite detention of US citizens suspected of "terrorist" activities or support by the US military. These provisions are blatantly unconstitutional an quite scary, to say the least. Those of us who actually have the courage to protest our government should be especially worried by this type of tyrannical legisation. Below is the response I received from Max. As you can see, Baucus is echoing Pres. Obama in finding fault with "mandatory" detentions. Apparently Max thinks that optional military detention for US citizens suspected of being "terrorist sympathizers" is ok. I'm going to tell Max, and you can think about it to, that voting for this bill, which should be coming out of conference committee soon, with the egregious sections will be a political head-wound from which he will not recover. Here's Baucus spinning the old political rhetoric, see what you think:
I fundamentally oppose these ill-conceived and unconstitutional detainee provisions. Sections 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA authorize the indefinite detention of American citizens and mandatory use of military tribunals for terrorism cases. Every American citizen has a right to a fair and public trial, and we should never tie the hands of our national security professionals and make it more difficult to bring terrorists to justice. I sent the attached letter to Senators Reid, McConnell, Levin, and McCain highlighting my concerns.
I made every effort to remove these unprecedented provisions from the NDAA. I supported both the Udall Amendment 1107, which would have stripped these provisions, and the Feinstein Amendment 1125, which would have clarified such authority relates to only those captured on foreign soil. Unfortunately, these amendments did not receive enough support from my colleagues to be adopted. Fortunately, the Senate overwhelmingly adopted an amendment stating that Congress did not intend to change current U.S. law with respect to the indefinite detention of American citizens. I believe this modification was a strong improvement to the otherwise flawed legislation. I supported final passage of S. 1867, which was approved by a vote of 93-7, because the bill provides critical support to U.S. troops serving in harm's way.
Thank you again for raising your concerns with me about S. 1867. As we do our best to protect this country, we must never violate Americans' basic civil rights. Please contact me with any additional comments or concerns. Also, please visit my website at baucus.senate.gov to view information on current issues and to find out what I'm doing both here in Washington and at home to help Montana.
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
Pretty weak, if you ask me.
I sent him an email recently to urge him to vote against the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), or at least those sections which declare the entire world to be a warzone, the US included, and allow for indefinite detention of US citizens suspected of "terrorist" activities or support by the US military. These provisions are blatantly unconstitutional an quite scary, to say the least. Those of us who actually have the courage to protest our government should be especially worried by this type of tyrannical legisation. Below is the response I received from Max. As you can see, Baucus is echoing Pres. Obama in finding fault with "mandatory" detentions. Apparently Max thinks that optional military detention for US citizens suspected of being "terrorist sympathizers" is ok. I'm going to tell Max, and you can think about it to, that voting for this bill, which should be coming out of conference committee soon, with the egregious sections will be a political head-wound from which he will not recover. Here's Baucus spinning the old political rhetoric, see what you think:
I fundamentally oppose these ill-conceived and unconstitutional detainee provisions. Sections 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA authorize the indefinite detention of American citizens and mandatory use of military tribunals for terrorism cases. Every American citizen has a right to a fair and public trial, and we should never tie the hands of our national security professionals and make it more difficult to bring terrorists to justice. I sent the attached letter to Senators Reid, McConnell, Levin, and McCain highlighting my concerns.
I made every effort to remove these unprecedented provisions from the NDAA. I supported both the Udall Amendment 1107, which would have stripped these provisions, and the Feinstein Amendment 1125, which would have clarified such authority relates to only those captured on foreign soil. Unfortunately, these amendments did not receive enough support from my colleagues to be adopted. Fortunately, the Senate overwhelmingly adopted an amendment stating that Congress did not intend to change current U.S. law with respect to the indefinite detention of American citizens. I believe this modification was a strong improvement to the otherwise flawed legislation. I supported final passage of S. 1867, which was approved by a vote of 93-7, because the bill provides critical support to U.S. troops serving in harm's way.
Thank you again for raising your concerns with me about S. 1867. As we do our best to protect this country, we must never violate Americans' basic civil rights. Please contact me with any additional comments or concerns. Also, please visit my website at baucus.senate.gov to view information on current issues and to find out what I'm doing both here in Washington and at home to help Montana.
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
Pretty weak, if you ask me.